S...Is For Sounds

Have you ever noticed how different sounds can spark a memory?  Or how different sounds make you feel, well...different?  

When I hear the ocean I feel calm, peaceful and I'm reminded of living near the beach in Brookings, Oregon.  When I hear my 16yr old son J say "creeper" in his scary voice, I get chills and totally weird out.  The sound of rain prompts me to turn off all audio sounds as well as any light source, sit back and relax.  

Does this happen to you? 

If so, what are the sounds, how do they make you feel and/or what do they remind you of?

Have a blessed day!  

I believe in the sun even when it is not shining. I believe in love even when I feel it not. I believe in God even when He is silent. *Written on a wall in a concentration camp*

© 2012 Shannon M. King. This publication is the exclusive property of Shannon M. King and is protected under the US Copyright Act of 1976 and all other applicable international, federal, state and local laws. The contents of this post/story may not be reproduced as a whole or in part, by any means whatsoever, without consent of the author, Shannon M. King. All rights reserved.

R...Is For Rest

Rest...as in I am going to have a rest day, sort of.  Today I will take it easy and try to enjoy my life.  Sometimes I get too busy and then start to feel anxious.  Not today.  I will spend some quality time with my hubby G, do a little running, and then have a nice relaxing evening.

How about you, do you need a rest today? If so, what are some of the things you do on your day of rest? 

I believe in the sun even when it is not shining. I believe in love even when I feel it not. I believe in God even when He is silent. *Written on a wall in a concentration camp*

© 2012 Shannon M. King. This publication is the exclusive property of Shannon M. King and is protected under the US Copyright Act of 1976 and all other applicable international, federal, state and local laws. The contents of this post/story may not be reproduced as a whole or in part, by any means whatsoever, without consent of the author, Shannon M. King. All rights reserved.

Q...Is For Quirks

Quirky Circus Act

According to free dictionary dot com, a quirk is... A peculiarity of behavior; an idiosyncrasy: "Every man had his own quirks and twists" (Harriet Beecher Stowe).

I have a few quirks myself.  I don't like when something isn't straight, like a rug or a picture and I have to straighten it or it will drive me crazy.  I love to sweep when I am at other peoples houses.  If my children vacuum, they inevitably miss something and I am compelled to do it again, the right way.

Do you have quirks? If so, what are some of them?  

I believe in the sun even when it is not shining. I believe in love even when I feel it not. I believe in God even when He is silent. *Written on a wall in a concentration camp*

© 2012 Shannon M. King. This publication is the exclusive property of Shannon M. King and is protected under the US Copyright Act of 1976 and all other applicable international, federal, state and local laws. The contents of this post/story may not be reproduced as a whole or in part, by any means whatsoever, without consent of the author, Shannon M. King. All rights reserved.

P...Is For Pink

I am not afraid or embarrassed to say I'm a girlie-girl, and I love, love, love the color pink.  Pink is a very interesting color that doesn’t technically exist on the color spectrum. (However you can make pink by mixing red and white)

Seriously, I kind of like LOVE anything and everything pink.  I have pink hair accessories, pink sweatshirts, pink t-shirts, pink socks, pink nail polish, two pink rings, etc...the list could go on and on, but I don't want to drive you insane bore you to tears. Let's just say I have an obsession with all things pink. As you all know the Breast Cancer Awareness ribbon is pink. I did not have breast cancer but all those who are battling cancer or who have survived cancer relate in one way or another.  In my travels I ran across this poem and thought I'd share it with you.

Pink Ribbons: The Ties That Bind
by Beth Thompson  

I never realized the strength
a tiny bit of ribbon can impart
until I pinned a twist of pink
above my heart to symbolize survival;
until I saw acquaintances and friends
and loved ones wear the same,
in my name, to show their strong support.
It's so hard to reclaim your life
once the crisis ends. You're never sure
it's really over. So courage begins
with the pinning on of symbols
in the face of lasting fears.
Once the illness touches you,
you know you can't depend on cures
to last forever, so you wear pink
to show the world, and show yourself,
you're still there, and you intend to stay.
Courage is persisting in the face of fear,
not waiting until it disappears to soldier on.
A pink ribbon twist to symbolize endurance with a bit of flair -
you're still there!
We've always decorated life with ribbons:
pink or blue to celebrate the newborn
gift of life, and later, bows for gifts
to mark each birthday celebration.
Christmas bows on boxes or on wreathes,
and loops of ribbon delicate as orchids
for a first corsage or for an anniversary, counting many loving years.
Ribbons range from small reminding bows tied on fingers
to giant rosettes of blue and gold to signify a prize-winning day.
We hold together memories of life with ribbon ties.
But ribbons took on a deeper meaning
as colors came to symbolize a cause.
Those yellow ribbons tied on trees
were hope and wishes for a loved one
coming home. Ribbons pinned on uniforms, reminders of bravery
long after wars have ended: deliberately colorful as if
to triumph over conflict, over pain.
We wear what we want to say, our pledge,
what we want others to remember and respect.
So my small twist of pink
becomes the symbol of a victory
in my own small, terrifying war
and helps me seek each day
the courage to carry on.
It tells the feelings I can't always
speak aloud, from a heart grown strong,
a thousand hearts grown strong,
despite the delicate shade of pink...
the courage to believe, to heal,
the courage to carry on. 


So with that I will leave you with a video called the Pink Glove Dance. Enjoy!

I believe in the sun even when it is not shining. I believe in love even when I feel it not. I believe in God even when He is silent. *Written on a wall in a concentration camp*


© 2012 Shannon M. King. This publication is the exclusive property of Shannon M. King and is protected under the US Copyright Act of 1976 and all other applicable international, federal, state and local laws. The contents of this post/story may not be reproduced as a whole or in part, by any means whatsoever, without consent of the author, Shannon M. King. All rights reserved.

O...is for Ohm

About a year and a half ago I had a complete breakdown.  I was a basket-case, with incoherent blubbering and all.  It seems I had been giving to everyone else but myself and I had been running on empty for quite some time.  So I decided to start writing in a journal and spending some time each day in meditation.

Usually when people hear the word meditation they automatically think of people sitting around a circle or on mats, chanting Ohm, complete with legs crossed and fingertips touching thumbs, and of course incense burning.  

Not! I would usually put on some nice meditative and soothing music, light some candles, sit on a comfy soft pillow with my eyes closed...then I would recite prayers or sometimes just think of nothing, although that is harder to do than you might think.  

Meditation does not have to have the proverbial Ohm in it, you can meditate any way you would like, just make sure it is a relaxed and calm environment. Go on, try it, you just might like it.  Happy Meditation!

I believe in the sun even when it is not shining. I believe in love even when I feel it not. I believe in God even when He is silent. *Written on a wall in a concentration camp*

© 2012 Shannon M. King. This publication is the exclusive property of Shannon M. King and is protected under the US Copyright Act of 1976 and all other applicable international, federal, state and local laws. The contents of this post/story may not be reproduced as a whole or in part, by any means whatsoever, without consent of the author, Shannon M. King. All rights reserved.

N...is for Negative Splits

A Negative Split is when you run the last half of a race faster than the first half of the race.

Negative splitting is the way to go when running a long race like the half-marathon or the full marathon, but it takes discipline.  You need to start out slower than your race pace in the first half of the race, and then speed up to race pace during the last half of the race.  When I ran my 5K this last weekend I ran a negative split race...the first mile and a half was slower than my last mile and a half and I beat my previous PR by 4 minutes and 23 seconds.  

Here is an example of a negative split race...If your running a marathon and plan on running a 10 minute mile pace, run your first 5 miles slower, maybe 15 seconds per mile slower.  Between miles 5-20, cruise at your goal pace of 10-minute miles,  and for the last 6+ pick up the pace and finish strong.

I believe in the sun even when it is not shining. I believe in love even when I feel it not. I believe in God even when He is silent. *Written on a wall in a concentration camp*

© 2012 Shannon M. King. This publication is the exclusive property of Shannon M. King and is protected under the US Copyright Act of 1976 and all other applicable international, federal, state and local laws. The contents of this post/story may not be reproduced as a whole or in part, by any means whatsoever, without consent of the author, Shannon M. King. All rights reserved.